Fire Safe Council of Nevada County Inc a Public Benefit Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF FIRE SAFE COUNCIL OF NEVADA COUNTY IS TO CREATE FIREWISE COMMUNITIES, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE EMERGECY PREPAREDNESS FOR CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE; TO NETWORK WITH OTHER FIRE SAFE COUNCILS, FIREWISE COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND FOUNDATIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS OF NEVADA COUNTY.
- Income
- $255,499
- Spending
- $962,234
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- -20.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 60%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $45,263, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 175% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 277% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 93% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $644,697 spent. FIREWISE COMMUNITIES/USA IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, THE COUNCIL PROVIDES COMMUNITY WILDFIRE HAZARD ASSESSMENTS, TRAINING OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE ADVISORS, CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, CLEARING OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE FOR LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND THE DISABLED, SCOTCH BROOM REMOVAL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EDUCATION.FUEL BREAK AND BIOMASS PROJECTS: THE COUNCIL MANAGES STRATEGIC COMMUNITY FUEL BREAKS CREATED PURSUANT TO ITS COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN.COMMUNITY CHIPPING AND GREEN WASTE: THE COUNCIL PROVIDES CHIPPING SERVICES TO NEVADA COUNTY LANDOWNERS WHO HAVE ACCUMULATED BRUSH PILES WHILE WORKING TO CLEAR DEFENSIBLE SPACE AND EVACUATION ROUTES. THE COUNCIL ALSO HOSTS ANNUAL GREEN WASTE DROP EVENTS FOR RESIDENTS TO DISPOSE OF VEGETATION ON THEIR PARCELS.THE FIRE SAFE COUNCIL OF NEVADA COUNTY CREATES REFLECTIVE SAFETY ADDRESS SIGNS SO PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL CAN FIND THE LOCATION IN AN EMERGENCY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.